Tube cleaner



Sept. 12, 1933. ERNST 1,926,231

TUBE CLEANER Filed NOV. 2, 1931 INVENTOR. M/ILL IA M ERNS A TTORNEYS.

Patented Sept. 12, 1933 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE 8 Claims.

My invention relates to tube cleaners, and particularly to the type ofcleaners which are motor driven and have cutters mounted for outwardmovement under centrifugal force, effected by rotation of the cleaner.An object of my invention is the provision of parts, which may bequickly assembled or taken apart, and which may be economicallyconstructed.

A further object of my invention is the provision, in a tube cleaner ofthe character described,

of means for holding against rotation at a plurality of spacedpositions, a cutter carrying shaft mounted for outward movement undercentrifugal force, to reduce to a minimum torsional stresses on theshaft.

The invention possesses numerous other objects and features ofadvantage, some of which, with the foregoing, will be set forth in thefollowingdescription of my invention.

Referring to the drawing:

Figure l is a horizontal sectional view of the cleaner of my invention,taken in aplane indicated by the line 11 of Figure 2; the outwardposition of the shafts and cutters is shown in dotted lines.

Figure 2 is a vertical sectional view of the cleaner resting on itsforward end, and taken in 'a plane indicated byline 2--2 of Figure 1;portion of the structure is shown in elevation todisclose clearly theconstruction.

Figure 3 is a plan view looking in the direction of arrow 3 of Figure 2.A portion'of the structure is omitted from the view to disclose clearlythe construction.

In the tube cleaners of the class wherein cutters are mounted on shaftswhich move outwardly under the influence of centrifugal force, as thecleaner is rotated, it is desirable to take up the axial thrust of saidshafts caused by movement of the device through the tube as it is beingcleaned, so as to prevent wear and tear on the parts. It is alsoadvantageous to hold the shafts against rotary motion, for the samepurpose. My tube cleaner is designed. to perform these functions, and atthe same time allow the cutter carrying shafts to havea free swingingmotion in addition to the outward motion there- 55 of. .The swingingmotion accommodates the cutters to varying thicknesses of scale, therebyrelieving strainon the parts and allowing a more eiilcacious cleaningaction.

In broadly descriptive terms, the tube cleaner of my invention comprisesa head having mounted thereon a plurality of shafts for carrying thecut- 0 ters. Means are provided, on the head, for mounting the shaftsfor bodily movement outwardly thereof, and with a swinging motion; sothat when the cleaner is rotated at a high speed, the cutters may moveoutwardly under the'influence of centrifugal'force. To prevent wear. andtear on the shaft bearings, and torsional stresses on the shafts, meansare also provided for holding the shafts against rotary movement; and athrust plate-adapted to bear against the rear- ,0 ends of the shafts isprovided for taking up the rearward axial thrust of the shafts underoperation of the cleaner. 7

Each of the cutter carrying shafts is provided with an aperture,adjacent its rear end, in which is removably positioned a pin abuttingagainst thehead; and the pins are so positioned as to be bodily movablewith the shaft,'and thereby allow swinging motion thereof. A retainingplate having pin retaining slots is removably positioned on the head;andto complete the assembly, means are provided for retaining the platein positionas the cleaner is rotated.

In greater detail, my tube cleaner comprises a head, preferably ofmetal, having an elongated stem 2 of substantially triangular section,formed with sets of radially extending spaced arms .or flanges 3,forming the front side 4 and rear side 6 of. the head. ,-;Preferablythree equi-spaced arms are provided at each end of the stem, and

' the arms on one end are alined with the arms at the other end.Although I have shown a cleaner with three such sets or pairs of arms,it is apparent that any suitable number may be employed.

The arms of each set or pair are formed with elongated and alined slots7; closed at their outer ends, in which are mounted, for bodily movementoutwardly of the head, a plurality of cutter carrying shafts 8. Thesides of apertures 7 areflat and parallel; and each of the shafts 8 isformed with parallel and flat sides along its entire length, to providea structure for holding the shaft against rotary motion. It is to benoted that the width of each shaft beween is flat sides is justsufficient to fit' closely in the slots 7, so as not to impede freeoutward and swinging motion of the shafts while the cleaner is operated,and at the sametime provide means for holding the shaft against rotary'rnotion at two spaced positions, thereby relieving twisting stressesthereon. The upper and lower ends of apertures 7, are preferably ofthesame curvature as the rounded portions of the shafts, to provide asgreat a bearing surface as possible.

Shafts 8 are of such length as to project beyond the front side of thecutter; and are provided, at their forward ends, with heads 9. Aplurality of conically shaped cutters 11 are journaled on the forwardprojecting ends of the shafts 8, between the heads 9 and the washers 12adjacent the front side. Cylindrically shaped cutters 13 are journaledon the shafts 8, between the arms 3. Preferably two of these cutters-areprovided for each shaft. The stem 2 of the head is deeply fluted orrecessed between the setsof arms to allow free rotation of thecutters13,

and at the same time permit the use of larger and heavier cutters thanif the stem were not fluted.

In assembling the structure thus far described, it is apparent that theconical cutters 11 may be first placed on the shafts, the washers 12positioned thereover, and the shafts inserted endwise through the frontarms 3; The cylindrical cutters '13 may then be, placed on the shafts,which are next inserted, also endwise, through the apertures" 7 of therear arms 3, so as to project therebeyond. I V t 'For the purpose ofholding the shafts on the head, each is provided, adjacent its rear end,with an aperture extending transversely through the flattened sidesthereof. The apertures are positioned closely adjacent'the arms 3forming the rear side of the head; and removably positioned pins '14 areplacedjthrough the apertures so as to be adapted to bear. against therear side or arms. Preferably, the position of the pins 14 is such, asto allow a slight endwise play of the cutter carrying shafts, andthereby permit free outward and swinging motion of the shafts underoperation of the cleaner, Means, common to all of the pins, is providedfor retaining the pins in position but allowing bodily movement withtheir respective shafts.

The rear side of the head is formed with an integral threaded stud 16,upon which is'removably positioned a retaining plate, having radiallyextending arms 17 positioned similarlyfwith respecttothe rear arms 3 ofthe head. The outer portions of the pin retaining arms 17 are formedwith elongated slotsf18, having 'flat sides, in which the pins 14 lieand are prevented from falling out of the cutter carryingshafts. A pin19 is threaded into .the'rear side of -the head, and engages in anaperture of the retaining plate, so as to provide meansfor properlypositioning the plate.

It is apparent from the preceding description, that after shafts 8 havebeen properly positioned on the head, the pins 14 may be quicklyinserted ,adaptedto bear against the end of the stud 16 soas to hold thelower end of hub 22 away from contact with the retaining plate and allowslight play'thereof." On therear'side, the thrust plate 21 is providedwith another threaded hub '24, into whichmaybe screwed a drive shaft 26which may be 1 connected to any suitable prime mover foroperating "thecleaner. The hub 24is pro,-

rotation of the head, and means for retaining the vided with-flats 25,in order that it may be readilyturned by a wrench.

From the preceding description, it is apparent that as the cleaner isshoved through a tube to be cleaned, the thrust plate 21 takes up therearward thrust of shafts 8; and when the cleaner is withdrawn from thetube, the pins 14 prevent the shafts from falling off the head. Due tothe fact that the shafts 8 are able to swing, as well as move bodilyoutward under the action of centrifugal force-as the cleaner is rotatedrapidly, it is seen that the cutters may readily accommodate themselvesto varying thicknesses of scale. Furthermore, since the pin retainingplate is out of contact with the hub 22, there is no danger of thehub'twisting the plate, under the driving action of the drive shaft,against the retaining pins 14, which action might'impede free outwardmovement of the cutter carrying shafts.

Since only a single element, the retaining plate, holds all of the pins'14- in position, it is obvious that the parts may be quickly assembled,or taken apart for the purpose of replacing cutters or other parts.

I claim:

i 1 10 l. A tube cleaner comprising a headincluding wardly of said headunder the action of centrifugal force upon rotation of the head, andmeans for retaining the'shaft on the-head.

2'. A'tube cleanercomprising ahead including a pair'of alined and spacedarms having elongated alined slotstherein, said slots being bounded byparallel fiat sides, a cutter carrying shaft having parallelflat sides,and adapted-forendwise-insertion through both of said slots, whereby theshaft is held against rotary motion by both arms but is mounted formovement outwardly of said 1 head under the action of centrifugal forceupon rotation of the head, means for retaining the shaft 'on-thehea'dQand a thrust plate mounted on said head and adapted to bearagainst the end of the shaft inserted'through said slots for taking up 1the axial thrust of the shaft upon operation of the cleaner.

3. A-tube cleaner comprising-a head including a pair of alined andspaced arms having elongated alined slots thereon, each of said slotshaving a 1 fiat side, a cutter carrying shaft of substantially the samecross-sectional size throughout'mounted onsaid head and projectingthrough said slots, said shaft-being formed with a fiat bearing againstthe flats bounding the slots, whereby the shaft is held against rotarymotion. by both arms but is mounted for movement outwardlyv of said headunder the'action of centrifugaluforce upon shaft on the head. 2

4. A tube cleaner comprising a head including a pluralityof'outwardlyprojecting pairs of alined arms, the arms of eachpair beingspaced and having elongated alined slots, a cutter carrying shaftadapted for" insertion. through the slots of each pair of arms, meansfor holdingeachshaft .against rotary motion at spaced points adjacenteach pair of arms, each-shaft being mounted for movement outwardlyofsaid 'head under the, action of 'centrifugalforce uponrotationof -thehead, an element removably positioned adjacent the rear end of eachshaft and adapted to bear against the side of the head for retaining theshaft on the head, and a single retaining and guide means for all ofsaid elements mounted on said head.

5. A tube cleaner comprising a head including alined and spaced armshaving elongated slots therein, each slot having a flat side, a cuttercarrying shaft passing through said slots and having a flat adjacent theflat side of each slot, means for retaining the shaft on the head, and athrust plate on the head and adapted to bear, against an end of theshaft for taking up axial thrust.

6. A tube cleaner comprising a head including alined and spaced armshaving elongated slots therein, a cutter carrying shaft passing throughsaid slots, means for holding the shaft against rotary motion, means forretaining the shaft on the head, and a thrust plate on the head andadapted to bear against an end of the shaft for taking up axial thrust.V

7. A tube cleaner comprising a body including a pair of alined andspaced arms having elongated alined slots therein, each of said slotshaving a fiat side, a cutter carrying shaft of substantially the samecross sectional size throughout mounted on said body and projectingthrough said slots, said shaft being formed with a fiat bearing againstthe flats bounding the slots, whereby the shaft is held against rotarymotion by both arms but is mounted for movement outwardly of said bodyunder the action of centrifugal force upon rotation of the body, a headformed integrally on the forward end of said shaft and adapted to bespaced from the front of said body, a cutter journaled on said shaftbetween said head and the front of said body,

